Apple Picking and Cider Donuts Near Chicago

Apple picking near Chicago means a drive. There are no u-pick orchards in the city itself, and most of the good ones are 60 to 90 minutes out, in the farm country west and northwest of the suburbs or across the border in Indiana. The drive is part of it. So is the cider donut you eat in the car on the way home.

Here are six orchards we would start with, plus what to know before you go. All of them were operating for the most recent season, but hours, prices and which apples are ready change week to week, so check each farm’s website before you leave.

Six orchards worth the drive

All Seasons Orchard, Woodstock. One of the larger u-pick farms in northern Illinois, known for Honeycrisp, which tends to be ready in September and sells out quickly. The farm keeps an apple availability calendar online. There is a barnyard, a corn maze, pig races and a bakery in an old barn that sells cider donuts, pies and caramel apples. The farm has been closed on Tuesdays, so check the schedule.

Edwards Orchard, Poplar Grove. Northwest of Rockford, this is a big orchard with dozens of apple varieties and cider donuts made fresh daily. It also has tractor tours, a maze and farm animals. It usually stays open later into the fall than many orchards closer to the city.

Honey Hill Orchard, Waterman. In DeKalb County, this farm grows dozens of apple varieties and has a petting zoo, a straw maze and weekend food trucks. The cider donuts are a big part of the draw, and the bakery has served them as an apple cider donut sundae.

Kuipers Family Farm, Maple Park. Kuipers is the most built-out option on this list, with dozens of apple varieties, a large fall festival area with mazes and play equipment, and live music on weekends. U-pick requires an orchard admission ticket, and the play area is a separate charge. It is a full-day place rather than a quick stop.

Jonamac Orchard, Malta. Jonamac has a large pick-your-own orchard with dozens of varieties over the season, a bake shop with donuts and pies, and a cider house that presses its own sweet cider and makes hard cider and apple wine. The corn maze opens around Labor Day weekend, and in October there has been a haunted version for older kids and adults. Saturday evenings have had live music, food trucks and a flashlight maze.

County Line Orchard, Hobart, Indiana. Just over the state line, about an hour from the Loop, this orchard has u-pick apples, a large barn store, a corn maze, a barnyard and tractor rides. Apple availability depends on the year. Frost and storms can limit the u-pick crop, and the orchard posts which fields are open, so check before you go.

How u-pick works

Most orchards charge in one of two ways: you pay for a bag up front and fill it, or you pay an admission fee and then pay by the pound for what you pick. Some do both. Kid-sized bags are usually available. Read the farm’s website for the current setup before you go, so nobody is surprised at the gate.

Apples ripen in waves. Early varieties are ready in late August, and the later ones, like Fuji and Pink Lady types, come in October. If your heart is set on a specific apple, check the orchard’s ripening calendar or call. If you just want a nice day, go and pick whatever is ready.

Tips for apple picking with kids

• Go on a weekday or early on a weekend. Lines for donuts and parking build fast by late morning on fall Saturdays. Some farms are closed one weekday, so check before you plan around it.
• Bring cash and a card. Most farms take cards now, but some small stands and food trucks may not.
• Wear boots. Orchards are muddy after rain, and fallen apples make the ground slippery.
• Show kids how to pick. Lift the apple and twist gently, rather than pulling, so you do not take the next year’s buds with it. Do not shake the branches.
• Do not overpick. A half-peck bag is plenty for a family that does not plan to bake. Apples keep longer in the fridge than on the counter.
• Eat the donut warm. Buy one bag for the car and one for the next morning.

Make a day of it

Most of these farms also have pumpkins, corn mazes and hayrides, so one trip can cover several fall traditions. If you are heading out anyway, our post on road trips from Chicago with kids has ideas for stops along the way, and our list of things to do in Chicago before it snows covers the rest of the season.

When you get home with too many apples, the easy answer is applesauce: chopped apples, a splash of water and a pinch of cinnamon, simmered until soft. Kids can mash it themselves.